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Foodtrippin’: Top 5 barkada hangouts in Manila

We all need a place where we could just chill after the busy schedule and stressful days at work or at school. But do you agree that it is more fun to relax when with friends? What more if there is good food + positive vibes around you, all those tiresome and sleepless nights can all go to where it belongs: down, down below.

Here are 5 places in Manila that will surely give you the surge of energy again. Are you all hungry enough to find out? Because, I am.

1. Hole in the Wall

If you are looking for ways to step up your foodcourt game to the next level, you’ll be impressed by just how the Hole in the Wall in Century Mall doesn’t look like foodcourt at all. Although with many restaurants to choose from, these are not your typical KFC, Jollibee or McDo, because at Hole in the Wall, they offer a variety from Mexican to Arabic, American to Chinese; burger stops to grilled food, desserts to pastries; and craft beer and cocktails to healthy detox juices to choose from. You’ll be surprised by how endless your options could be. Just be sure to bring a lot of cash with you, as it could get a little pricey.

2. Buffalo Wild Wings

With such a lively ambiance and charming servers, Buffalo Wild Wings is truly a barkada spot. Here, you don’t only get entertained by how wild and kicking your wings are, but also through the tab games that you could take part in. If you’re feeling rather competitive and adventurous, you could try their Blazin’ Wing Challenge wherein you have to finish a dozen of wings slathered in their signature “Blazin’” sauce, the spicy of all queens and kings of spiciness at Buffalo Wild Wings, in less than six (6) minutes. In return, you get a t-shirt, and your photo up and mighty on their wall of fame. That’s not the end of their surprises though! While you’re busy partying in your seat and eating your wings away, a special guest comes in and parties with you. Don’t get intimidated by how amazing his dancing skills are though.

3. Café Mary Grace

If you lean more on the homey vibe and looking for just peace where you could quietly eat your food and still enjoy the company of your buddies, then I suggest you try Café Mary Grace. Once you enter, you’ll be greeted with warm smiles and a friendly atmosphere. With picture frames of quotes, or random pictures, hanging on the walls, books you could read while waiting for your food, and birds fluttering and a beautiful chandelier hanging from the ceiling, you’ll feel at home at once. Once seated, you’ll immediately notice the love letters posted on the glass tables while sipping on your lemon water. At Café Mary Grace, they truly pay attention to their customer’s needs and wants. There’s nothing more homey than that.

4. Andrew’s Café

Managed by the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde faculty and students, you would be surprised by how delicious the food here are, with a separate room for the dessert and pastries and another room for the main course. You could choose from their set menus, specialty of the day to their one of a kind ice cream. You’re probably thinking right now, “what makes their ice cream so different?” Well, for starters, they bring their Red Velvet, Rocky Road and Blueberry Cheesecake ice cream to the next level with the perfect balance of creaminess, sweetness and softness. But that’s not it! Champorado and taho are our go-to for the rainy days or just plain, lazy mornings. Andrew’s Café is one step ahead though. By incorporating their respective ingredients to the ice cream, you’d think it doesn’t taste as good as the one you buy from stores or in the streets. Wrong. It is even more lovable as an ice cream. You could taste the richness of the chocolate and rice in the Champorado ice cream and the mouthwatering soy of the Taho ice cream.

Location: 2544 Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila

5. Project Pie

Let your creative juices flow and let your personality shine on that pizza. It’s make-your-own pizza from scratch. Choose from what base you want, sauce, meet, veg, everything! The power of an amazing pizza is in your own hands, so make use of it well. Bring your friends and get to know them better by what pizza they come up with. Challenge them to philosophical quotes, sarcastic reminders and pizza choices. Simple or extravagant, no pizza is the same at Project Pie.